Canning: Hamilton ready to spark a winning run

Sep 29 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MARTIN CANNING has warned Hamilton’s First Division rivals that they’re still to hit top gear.

The defender was a rock at the back as Accies dealt with a Dundee onslaught and had a hand in setting up Mark McLaughlin’s winner as the visitors performed a smash-and-grab at Dens Park.

But the former Hibs and Gretna stopper says winning when you’re not playing well is the mark of a good team – and feels that Hamilton are ready to go on a winning run.

He said: “We definitely weren’t at our best. Dundee were probably the better team, but getting a 1-0 win is a huge result. It’s a hard place to go and win, so to go there, play badly and take the three points says a lot about the boys.

“We had to start turning draws into wins to try to stay up at the top end of the table It has been a strange start to the season for us – I don’t feel as if we’ve ever really got going and played well, but we’re still up there and that has got to be a good thing.

“We’re going to have to hit form at some point and, hopefully, it’s a good sign that we’re winning games when we’re not playing well.

“If we hit form, we can go on a winning run.”

Canning (29) admits Accies were lucky to get away with the space they gave Dundee, but said that’s the main difference between the SPL and life in the First Division.

He said: “We were quite far off it all over the pitch and, when that happens, it’s difficult to get tight on strikers because we’re worried about what’s in behind us. I just felt all over the park that we didn’t win our battles.

“Had we won battles we would have been able to get tighter on people and that would have allowed us to deal with the likes of their striker, Stevie Milne, a bit better than we did.

“I don’t think there’s a huge deal of difference between the bottom couple of teams in the Scottish Premier League and the top couple of teams in the First Division – I don’t think the gap is that big.

“If we were as open as we were on Saturday, I think we would have been punished more had it been in the SPL. I think you get away with one or two things in the First Division, and that gives you a chance to come back and get the goal.”

‘Canzo’ expects a tough game on Saturday when Falkirk visit New Douglas Park, and knows the Bairns will be looking to bounce back from their 3-2 defeat against leaders Morton last weekend.

Steven Pressley’s side knocked holders Rangers out of the Scottish Communities Cup last midweek so he knows they will be a tough nut to crack, but Canning reckons it’s up to Accies to take the game to them.

He said: “It will be another hard game – Falkirk are scoring goals, although they’re also conceding them – but we’ve got to look to win every game at home, so we’ve got to look for the three points.

“There’s not a lot between teams at the top end of the First Division, so it will be a difficult game.”

lCongratulations to Fraser Eadie, of Birch Brae, Hamilton, who has won a pair of tickets for Saturday’s match against Falkirk, courtesy of league sponsor IRN-BRU.